November 2012
6 posts
Fact #1: Don’t take our word for it
For 127 days we have published facts about Steve King and why he isn’t the right choice for Iowa. But don’t take our word for it, here – according to the Sioux City Journal - is what the reaction was when Christie stopped by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church last night for dinner:
Paul Bindner, of Le Mars, said it was a nice surprise to see her at the church. He said he doesn’t always vote...
Fact #2: Good for a beer, not for Congress
Congressman King might be good for a beer, but he has not been good for Iowa. With two days left until Election Day, the choice is clear who will represent the best interests of Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. Today, Christie Vilsack was endorsed by the Mason City Globe Gazette, showing that the Vilsack campaign has the momentum.
Here’s what they said about Congressman King’s leadership over...
Fact #3: King needs one more hour
Here’s what Congressman King told supporters in Sioux City tonight: “There are a whole lot of people who want to say the things that I say, but they are afraid. We’re going to give them courage on Tuesday night.”
We’re glad daylight savings time ends tonight, because Congressman King will need one more hour to explain his statements over the years and convince Iowans that these are...
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Bonus Fact: More reaction to King’s hurricane...
Here’s the latest reaction from New Jersey to Congressman King’s comments that he would oppose hurricane relief funds because he thinks they would go to “Gucci bags and massage parlors.” This is what U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell said yesterday:
“People are hurting and Steve King wants to turn his back on these very taxpayers when they need our assistance most. I will fight for each and every person...
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Fact #4: Getting desperate
With the polls tied and Congressman King once again under fire for outrageous comments, it’s no surprise that Congressman King is getting desperate in the final days of this campaign. Unfortunately, his absurd claims are just the latest example of why he’s not able to be a strong voice for the 4th District.
In Mason City yesterday, King told the audience, “I’m not convinced Christie Vilsack has...
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Fact #5: New Jersey lawmaker responds to “Gucci...
Congressman King is once again in the national news for his outrageous statement that hurricane relief funds may go to “Gucci bags and massage parlors.” What do New Jersey lawmakers think of such extreme rhetoric? The Huffington Post reports on New Jersey Assemblywoman Connie Wagner’s reaction:
“One of the first thoughts that came to my mind was ‘well then we won’t help Iowa...
October 2012
31 posts
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Fact #6: Former Republican Lt. Governor Art Neu on...
In today’s Des Moines Register, Rekha Basu writes on why Iowans should support Christie Vilsack, including what Vilsack supporter and former Republican Lt. Governor Art Neu has to say about King:
Attorney Art Neu of Carroll served as Iowa’s Republican lieutenant governor from 1973 to 1979. He calls King “a decent man” personally, intelligent and courteous. He has friends who are voting for King,...
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Fact #7: We hope he’s willing to do more
We hope Congressman King will do more for the victims of the current horrible disaster than he was willing to do for victims of Hurricane Katrina. They will need our support in the coming days as they begin to rebuild and recover.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by the storm.
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Fact #8: Contraception position becomes clearer
Just over a week since King stated “I’ve not taken a position on the sale of contraception at all,” it appears that his position is coming into focus. The Huffington Post reports this afternoon on comments King made last week while visiting Ames High School:
The landmark 1965 Supreme Court decision in Griswold v. Connecticut, which prevents states from criminalizing contraception, was...
Fact #9: FreedomWorks too busy trying to save...
FreedomWorks, the Tea Party special interest group funded by big corporations, is getting ready to attack Christie Vilsack. But, in their rush to save Steve King’s flagging campaign and a vote for their anti-middle class agenda, FreedomWorks can’t even spell Christie Vilsack’s name right or check their facts.
The group is set to launch ConArtistChristie.com and an accompanying ad. The ad, and...
Fact #11: Karl Rove isn’t very creative
Karl Rove’s super PAC – Crossroads GPS – is now on the air with a baseless attack ad against Christie Vilsack. Rove and his anonymous donors are so quick to try and protect a vote for their agenda in Washington that they didn’t even take the time to look at the facts or Christie’s plan, they only looked at Congressman King’s consistent record of putting a national agenda ahead of what’s best for...
http://DoesSteveKingThinkContraceptivesShouldBeLega... →
Fact #12: Should contraception be legal?
With voting already underway and Election Day in just 12 days, Congressman King needs to answer the question.
Fact #13: Should contraception be legal?
“I’ve not taken a position on the sale of contraception at all” – Rep. Steve King
Here’s the video to prove it:
With voting already underway and Election Day in just 13 days, Congressman King needs to answer the question.
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Fact #14: Should contraception be legal?
“I’ve not taken a position on the sale of contraception at all” – Rep. Steve King
Here’s the video to prove it:
With voting already underway and Election Day in just 14 days, Congressman King needs to answer the question.
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Fact #15: Should contraception be legal?
Steve King won’t say whether contraception should be legal.
Here’s the video to prove it:
With voting already underway and Election Day in just 15 days, Congressman King needs to answer the question.
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Fact #16: "I've not taken a position on the sale...
On a special edition of WHO-TV’s Insiders, Congressman King made a shocking announcement about whether he believes contraceptives should be legal in this country. His answer: “I’ve not taken a position on the sale of contraceptives at all.”
King was also asked to explain some of his other outrageous statements. During the interview, King continued to defend his comparison of...
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Fact #17: Replace Medicare?
Congressman King’s record on Medicare is nothing to be proud of. He voted for the Ryan Budget, which would turn Medicare into a voucher program and force recipients to pay $6,400 more out-of-pocket. He would also repeal the provision in the Affordable Care Act that is closing the doughnut hole in Medicare Part D.
But, according to his statements in his last debate with Christie Vilsack, he seems...
Bonus Fact: Santorum visit raises Akin question…...
What do Congressman King and Rick Santorum have in common, aside from the fact that they’ll be together in Ames tonight? They’re among the few Republicans standing up for Congressman Todd Akin. But where does King stand on Akin’s campaign for Senate? He has been quiet on the issue since claiming criticism of Akin was simply “petty, personal attacks” and that he had never heard of a victim of...
Fact #18: ISU economists expose King’s debt plan
Since Congressman King took office, our nation’s debt has increase from $6 trillion to more than $16 trillion. Along the way, he has voted to add to the deficit by supporting two unfunded wars, an unfunded prescription drug benefit, and unfunded tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.
While he says the solution is a balanced budget amendment, today the Ames Tribune reports that economists...
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Fact #19: Try to follow Steve King’s logic on this...
King has never been known as a moderate or a consensus builder. After all, he openly admits that his goal is to move the nation to the right. This is also the Congressman who, after health care reform passed, told a rally “Let’s beat that other side to a pulp. Let’s chase them down. There’s going to be a reckoning!”
Given that, see if you can follow his logic in an interview posted online with...
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Fact #20: What you could actually fill a binder...
Congressman King may not claim to have “binders full of women,” but you could certainly fill a binder with his votes and statements against women over the years. Here are just a few of the many examples:
Criticized the Violence Against Women Act: Congressman King has been an outspoken critic of the Violence Against Women Act, even saying it “involves itself in the relationship of marriage that I...
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Fact #21: Steve King is never wrong
Congressman King frequently makes controversial statements. He has said the Violence Against Women Act interferes “in the relationship of marriage.” He has said terrorists would be “dancing in the streets” if Barack Obama became president. He has compared immigrants to dogs, stray cats, and livestock. He even defended Todd Akin saying criticism of him was “petty, personal attacks,” and recently...
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Fact #22: Three weeks out, Vilsack has momentum in...
While the King campaign is trying to pass off signs as momentum and spending their time explaining why King had notes on his hand in the last debate, here’s what really matters and why Christie Vilsack has what it takes to win this race:
Strong Fundraising: The latest FEC report, which will be filed later today, shows the strongest fundraising quarter yet for Christie Vilsack, with nearly $700,000...
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Fact #23: Empty promises
Congressman King is making some big promises to try and earn the support of voters. Promises that aren’t backed up by facts or his record in Washington. Here’s his latest promise, as reported by Reuters:
The polls have been close in a race that has drawn a lot of money, but King says he is confident of farmers’ support because he has a chance to head the Agriculture Committee if...
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Fact #24: Karl Rove comes to Iowa
Beginning Monday, Karl Rove’s special interest group, American Crossroads GPS, will begin an $8.1 million advertising campaign targeted against House candidates, including Christie Vilsack. This shows that Congressman King is in trouble is hoping anonymous millionaires and billionaires will buy this election for him.
While the group bills itself as “grassroots,” their goal is to buy this election...
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Fact #25: Clean campaign?
We’ve watched for months as Congressman King and his supporters run false attack ads, send desperate mailings, and distort Christie Vilsack’s record. Now, even more people know that King isn’t running a clean campaign. Here’s the coverage following the revelation that Congressman King had notes on his hand during Tuesday’s debate:
WHO-TV: “This is a still picture from the debate. You can...
Fact #26: More soap next time?
This afternoon POLITICO reports that Congressman King had notes written on his hand during Tuesday’s debate in Sioux City, a violation of the debate rules prohibiting candidates from bringing notes onstage:
POLITICO writes:
In footage of the debate (screenshot below, or at about 9:30), King opens his hand and there are handwritten notes on it. The debate rules said neither candidate was allowed...
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Fact #27: “Do a good job of shopping”
“Do a good job of shopping,” that’s what Congressman King told a Morningside College student during last night’s debate, after she asked what he would do to make college more affordable for students like herself. Congressman King went on to say “We’re going to hold together some of the things, like Pell Grants, which I’ve voted consistently to protect and save in place.” Both statements highlight...
Fact #28: King’s desperate mail
Congressman King is on the defensive. With poll numbers that signal bad news – especially for a well-known incumbent – he has resorted to sending outrageous mailers to voters attacking Christie Vilsack, believe it or not, because she will receive Social Security.
Here’s the mailing sent on King’s behalf by the Republican Party of Iowa:
Not only is the argument that the Vilsack’s will receive...
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Fact #29: Medicare mystery
For years Congressman King has been a leading opponent of the Affordable Care Act. He has said that none of it should be preserved and has argued against those in his own party who want a replacement plan. His desire to “rip it out by the roots” is so strong that he has even been willing to allow the doughnut hole in Medicare Part D to reopen.
Last year Congressman King argued that the doughnut...
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Fact #30: Republicans for Vilsack
How enthusiastic are Republicans about supporting King in this election? Well, the Sunday papers don’t have good news for King. Republicans across the state are speaking out about voters - even strong conservatives - who aren’t going to support King in this election:
Globe Gazette / Lee News:
“I’ve had quite a few people tell me that they are going to vote for Romney and Vilsack,” said Ruth...
Fact #31: Pelosi supports the discharge petition,...
King has spent a lot of time attacking House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi during this campaign, but she’s willing to do something King hasn’t: support bringing the Farm Bill up for a vote.
CQ Roll Call reports:
Pelosi said she supported a discharge petition filed by Iowa Democrat Bruce Braley to force a vote on the House bill. “Then we can go to conference and resolve our...
Fact #32: King backs out of debate… again
A few months ago, the King campaign released a list of nine scheduled debates they had agreed to. The list included a debate, scheduled for October 23rd, in Fort Dodge.
Well, guess what? The King campaign is backing out of yet another debate, even though they clearly agreed to a moderated, not Lincoln-Douglas style, debate in Fort Dodge. Today, the Fort Dodge Messenger reported about King’s...
Fact #33: King still not a fan of ISU...
During his editorial board meeting with the Ames Tribune yesterday, King continued to criticize multicultural groups at Iowa State University. King previously said these groups were just “people that feel sorry for themselves” and argued that they encourage “victimology.” Now, King claims that members of these groups “don’t take responsibility for their own destiny.”
Here’s what the Ames Tribune...
Fact #34: King covers his record of supporting big...
Congressman King has been an inconsistent supporter of wind energy and biofuels, but he has been a consistent supporter of tax breaks for big oil. Now, when speaking to the ethanol industry, King is attempting to hide his record. In response to questions by Ethanol Today, King said he believes Congress should expect the oil industry to stand on its own:
“I do not expect the cellulosic biofuel...
Fact #35: What you need to know about King’s new...
In a new ad released today, King showed how willing he is to mislead voters and hide his record. Here are the three things Iowans should know about this claim and Congressman King’s Medicare record:
The Affordable Care Act makes no cuts to Medicare benefits. The health care bill reduces future Medicare spending, it actually takes important steps to strengthen Medicare and closes the ‘donut hole’...
Fact #36: Still no plan for the middle class
Two new ads out today once again make it clear that Congressman King has no plan for the middle class. In fact, he has just the opposite: a plan to increase taxes, take away health care options, and continue increasing our national debt.
Today, ads released by the King campaign and the NRCC reinforce how unacceptable King’s record is. The NRCC’s ad continues to repeat false and misleading claims,...
September 2012
30 posts
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Fact #37: King’s math doesn’t add up
The Des Moines Register reports this morning about the 4th District race and each candidate’s plan to reduce the deficit and balance the budget. While Christie Vilsack has a plan to save billions of dollars and begin reducing our deficit, the central piece of Congressman King’s plan would actually increase the deficit over the next decade.
The Register reports:
King, a favorite of tea party...
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Fact #38: Skin in the game
There’s no doubt that Congressman King wants millionaires and billionaires to pay less in taxes, while forcing the middle class to pay more. On Thursday, in a moment of honesty, King went on a national radio show to openly tout his agenda and admit that he feels the middle class doesn’t have enough “skin in the game.” Here’s what he said:
“I want to make taxpayers out of everyone, that way...
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Fact #39: Marco Rubio doesn't call it amnesty
During last night’s debate, Congressman King continued to show why Speaker Boehner made the right choice by skipping over him to lead the subcommittee on immigration. King repeatedly claimed the DREAM Act and recent action by the administration was “amnesty.” Congressman King got it wrong and once again has proved he is unwilling to work in a bipartisan fashion on immigration.
Here’s the...
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Fact #40: Taking credit for Highway 20, again
This week King showed up to tour progress on Highway 20 and his office sent out a press release stating, “King has been instrumental in helping to secure funds for the project during his time in Congress.”
Well, here’s the truth. Congressman King has a consistent record of inserting earmarks for Highway 20, then voting against passage of a bill and taking credit anyway.
Here’s what we know: In...
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Fact #41: Deeper Farm Bill cuts ahead
Congressman King has not been a leader on the Farm Bill. King is the only member of Iowa’s congressional delegation in opposition to a discharge petition to bring it up for a vote, and now he’s claiming that he secured personal assurance from House Speaker John Boehner that the Farm Bill would be brought up for a vote.
POLITICO reports that Boehner remained vague about this issue and suggested...
Fact #42: No refunds
Remember when King promised to file a lawsuit against the Obama administration’s immigration order by Labor Day? That obviously didn’t happen.
Remember when he sent out this fundraising email, with the subject line “I’m suing the President” to raise campaign cash off of it? In that email, King asked, “Will you help me defend the Constitution by donating $25, $50, $100 or more today?”
Now,...
Fact #43: The votes were there
Congressman King is the only member of Iowa’s Congressional delegation not to support the discharge petition for the Farm Bill. In fact, he was quoted in this morning’s Des Moines Register as saying, that it was simply a “political tool.” King’s refusal to stand with Iowa farmers is even more troubling given the fact that the votes to pass the bill were...
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Fact #44: ISU economists agree, the Fair Tax...
Yesterday, King traveled across the 4th District touting his so-called Fair Tax plan, which is really a national 23 percent sales tax on everything Iowans buy. We’ve detailed in the past how this plan increases taxes on the middle class while benefiting the wealthiest Americans and how even Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney believes it’s a bad idea.
Now, following King’s event at ISU...
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Fact #45: What King won’t tell Iowans about the...
Today, King is traveling across the district misleading voters about the Fair Tax, a national 23 percent sales tax on everything they buy, whether it’s filling up with gas, stocking up on groceries, or buying prescription drugs. Even worse, the Fair Tax is a massive tax break for the very rich and a tax increase on the middle class.
But don’t take our word for it, here’s what Mitt Romney and...
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Bonus Fact: No Farm Bill, just “nanny state” speed...
As Congressman King prepares to leave Washington without passing a Farm Bill, extending the production tax credit for wind, or reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, he chose to take a stand yesterday on the House floor. Not for action on any of these, but a stand against the “nanny state” speed limits.
According to the Huffington Post:
King took to the House floor Thursday to complain...
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Fact #46: Getting to work?
Yesterday, Congressman King decided to skip his fundraiser with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, saying that he was going back to work on the Farm Bill. Instead, King stayed in Washington to vote to adjourn until November 12th, leaving the Farm Bill to expire at the end of the month. King also remains the only member of Iowa’s Congressional delegation unwilling to support a discharge petition,...
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Fact #47: King’s 47%
While Mitt Romney remains under scrutiny for his comment that 47 percent of Americans are dependent on government, Congressman Steve King has his own version. King has proven time and time again that he does not support the middle class and instead, believes that those Iowans looking for work are part of a “nation of slackers,” and has even suggested that everyone should work until they’re...
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Fact #48: Who said it?
Today’s fact is simple and requires some audience participation. All you have to do guess who said this:
“As a sign of my support of Iowa farmers and solidarity with them, I’m going to sign this discharge petition which basically would, if they get 218 signatures would force the bill to come to the floor of the House.”
If you guessed that it was Congressman Steve King, you’d be wrong. He has...
